Archimandrite
Saint Sebastian, born Stepan Vasilyevich Fomin, was born on 28 October 1884 in the Oryol Governorate of Russia. Following the death of his parents, he lived together with his brother. In 1909, he entered to the skete of Optina, where he lived in asceticism under the guidance of Elder Joseph and later of Fr. Nectarius. In 1917, he was tonsured as a monk and given the name Sebastian.
Following the closure of Optina in 1918, he continued to serve the Church despite persecution and hardship. In 1927, he was ordained to the priesthood and subsequently elevated to the rank of hieromonk. He served at the Church of St Elijah in Kozlov until his arrest in 1933. During his time there, he cared for the family of Protod eacon Vladimir Nechaev, who had already been arrested and was being held by the authorities.
During the interrogations, he courageously professed his faith and openly criticised the Soviet government. He was sentenced to seven years in prison. Following his release in 1939, he settled on the outskirts of Karaganda, where he took care of the faithful and gradually formed a devout community around him.
In 1944, a church was established, while in 1955 the brotherhood was officially recognised as a religious community. In 1957, the saint was elevated to the rank of archimandrite. From this position, he devoted himself to maintaining the ecclesiastical rule of the Church and caring for the spiritual growth of his flock.
He reposed on 19 April 1966, on Radonitsa, and was buried in the Mikhailovsky Cemetery. His canonisation took place in 1997, when he began to be venerated by the local community. His relics were later discovered and transferred to the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Karaganda. In 2000, he was recognised as one of the New Martyrs and Confessors of the Russian Orthodox Church.
